Mumbai Tribals Protest at Azad Maidan Against Gaothans Being Marked as Slums | File Photo
Mumbai: Hundreds of tribals from Aarey, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Gorai and from various Gaothans in Mumbai gathered at Azad Maidan on Friday protesting against the non-implementation of Forest and Land Rights Act, and marking of various Gaothans in as ‘slums’.
The residents of Gaothans- the village settlements, are the indigenous community and the settlements have special budget by the BMC for their development. However, some have been identified as ‘slums’ and the tribals recently got notice for submission of documents for Slum Rehabilitation Projects.
The tribals also demanded the padas in Mumbai should be officially recognised as Gaothans and said the government makes decisions without any consultation which is injustice to indigenous community.
Mumbai Tribals Protest at Azad Maidan Against Gaothans Being Marked as Slums | File Photo
The people in Gaothans and Koliwadas are the first settlers in the city and hold rich cultural and history to their settlements. However, the community have been complaining that their grienvences have remained unaddressed for decades and infrastructure development in the settlements have been neglected.
The tribals protesting at Azad Maidan were accompanied by members of Maharashtra Adivasi Manch, Kashtakari Shetkari Sanghatna and Shramik Mukti Andolan.
Ramesh Ghatal from Mumbai’s Bangodapada Gaothan said, “Gaothans do not fall under Slum Rehabilitation Projects. But due to lack of proper demarcation, some tribals houses have been wrongly identified as slums. The slums have mushroomed near original Gaothans. We have been demanded rightful demarcation. Our families have been staying at the same location from generations.”
Mumbai Tribals Protest at Azad Maidan Against Gaothans Being Marked as Slums | File Photo
Ghatal said that the several residents Gaothans do not hold Schedule Tribe certificates which snatches their job opportunities. “Our generation is educated. Many have completed graduation. However, several families do not have government certificates identifying as tribals. We have been demanding to organise local camps,” he added.
State Minister and MLA from Bandra, Ashish Shelar visited protest site on Friday to clear the government’s stand that there will be no injustice to the indigenous community of Mumbai.
The residents of Gaothans are irked as recently Kurla Christian Village, Bamanwada in Andheri East and Bhandarwada of Marol Gaothan got notices that the settlements are identified as ‘slums’.
Bhandarwada residents received notices from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and Slum Rehabilitation Authority, asking them to submit documents like electoral roll register extracts, electricity bills, property tax bills, and society registration certificates to the authorities.
Residents of the area said that the notice is objectionable and reflects a lack of acknowledgment that Bhandarwada is a part of Marol Gaothan, which has been officially notified and demarcated as a Gaothan in the sanctioned Development Plan of Mumbai, 2034.
Godfrey Pimenta, trustee of Watchdog Foundation said, “The houses in the Bhnandarwada Gaothan are erroneously and arbitrarily classified as slums. The issuance of such notices is directly contradicts the preservation principles governing heritage sites and threatens the cultural and architectural legacy of this historic settlement.”
In a letter to the BMC, SRA, and the Maharashtra Chief Minister, the residents had lodged their objection to the notice and have demanded the immediate withdrawal of these notices, along with a formal acknowledgment of Marol Gaothan’s heritage status to prevent any further misrepresentation.
The BMC in its budget for FY 25-26 allocated Rs 25 crores for the development of Gaothans and Koliwadas in the city.
